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Greenalite

Big Photo

La Unión, Sierra de Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
© Marco Barsanti

Formula:
Fe
 
2-3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:green, light yellow-green
Hardness:2½
Name:Named in allusion to its green colour.


Kaolinite-Serpentine Group.

Classification of Greenalite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.27-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.ED.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.1.2b.4

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
1 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 1:1 layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.19.6

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
19 : Silicates of Fe
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Type Occurrence of Greenalite

Type Locality:Biwabik, Mesabi Range, St. Louis Co., Minnesota, USA
Year of Discovery:1903

Physical Properties of Greenalite

Lustre:Dull, Earthy
Colour:green, light yellow-green
Streak:greenish-gray
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Greenalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.54Å, b = 9.55Å, c = 7.44Å
β = 104.2°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.58 : 1 : 0.779
Unit Cell Volume:V 381.60 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:oolitic to microcrystalline

Optical Data of Greenalite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.650 - 1.675 nβ = 1.674 nγ = 1.674
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.024

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Greenalite

Formula:
Fe
 
2-3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Fe, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Fe, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Al,Mn,Mg

Relationship of Greenalite to other Species

Member of:Serpentine Group
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.ED.05Dickite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Kaolinite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Nacrite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Halloysite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.ED.10Halloysite-7Å
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Halloysite-10Å
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.ED.15Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
9.ED.15Antigorite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.15Berthierine
(Fe,Fe,Mg)
 
2-3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Chrysotile
Mg
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
](OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.15Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
9.ED.15Lizardite
Mg
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.15Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.ED.15Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.20Allophane
(Al
 
2
O
 
3
)(SiO
 
2
)
 
1.3-2
·2.5-3H
 
2
O
9.ED.20Chrysocolla
(Cu,Al)
 
2
H
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·nH
 
2
O
9.ED.20Imogolite
Al
 
2
SiO
 
3
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
9.ED.25Bismutoferrite
Fe
3+
2
Bi[OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.ED.25Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
[OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.19.1Fayalite
Fe
2+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.19.2Ferrosilite
Fe
 
2
[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
14.19.3Laihunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.19.4Ferro-anthophyllite
☐[Fe
2+
2
][Fe
2+
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]
14.19.5Ferripyrophyllite
Fe
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
14.19.7Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
](OH)
 
4
14.19.8Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Greenalite

German names:
Greenalit
Russian names:
Гриналит
Spanish names:
Greenalita

Polytypes for Greenalite

Polytypes:
Greenalite-1AGreenalite-1MGreenalite-2AGreenalite-2M1Greenalite-3A
Greenalite-3R

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Greenalite

Reference List:American Mineralogist: 20: 405-425.

American Mineralogist: 21: 449-455.

Internet Links for Greenalite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Greenalite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    		Birch
    • Queensland
      • Mt Isa - Cloncurry area
        • Cloncurry District
    • Tasmania
      • Zeehan district
        • Mt Heemskirk mineral field
    		Kwak, T.A.P., and Nicholson, M. (1988): Mineralogical Magazine 52, 713-716.
    • Western Australia
    Mining Annual Review (1985): 368.
    Canada
     
    • British Columbia
      • Slocan Mining Division
        • Riondel
    		No reference listed
    • New Brunswick
      • Gloucester Township
        • Bathurst
    		Tschernich, R. (1992): Zeolites of the World, p.143
    • Ontario
      • Algoma District
        • Blind River-Elliot Lake uranium district
    		Robertson, J.A. (1976) The Blind River Uranium Deposits: the ores and their setting. (Ontario Division of Mines, Miscellaneous paper 65)
    China
     
    • Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
      • Chongzuo Prefecture
        • Daxin Co.
    		Zeng, Y., and Liu, T. (1999): Ore Geology Reviews 15(1), 153-163.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
        • Vernířovice
    		Novotný, P., Zimák, J.: Puklinová mineralizace alpského typu na lokalitách „Mísečky“ a „Černý důl“ u Vernířovic. Acta Musei Moraviae, Sci. geol., 2003, roč. 88, s. 123-138.
    Israel
     
    Vapnik, Y., Sokol, E., Murashko M., Sharygin V. (2006): The enigma of Hatrurim. Mineralogical Almanac, 10, 69-77.
    Italy
     
    • Liguria
      • Genova Province
        • Sestri Levante
    		Carbone, C. , Marescotti, P., Cabella, R., Lucchetti, G. (2002): Sulfide alteration and related secondary minerals from the Libiola mine (Eastern Liguria, Italy). Poster at the 82° SIMP Congress , Arcavacata di Rende (CS) 18-20/09/2002. Abstract in Plinius 28 , 88-89.
    Japan
     
    • Shikoku Island
      • Kochi Prefecture
        • Kochi City
    		Matsubara, S. & Kato, A. (1989) Manganbabingtonite from Mitani, Kochi City, Japan. Bulletin of the National Science Museum (Tokyo), 15, #3, 81-89.
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Primorskiy Kray
    		Bernard & Hyrsl (2004): Minerals and their Localities, 259.
    South Africa
     
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Kromdraai 209 JR farm
    		S. Weinert (2006) Locality Data Sheet ML35 (South African Micromount Society)
    • Northern Cape Province
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Murcia
      • Sierra de Cartagena
        • La Unión
    Sweden
     
    • Västmanland
      • Hällefors
        • Hjulsjö
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1985) 49 (353), 611-613
    USA
     
    • Alabama
      • Clay Co.
    		Rocks & Min 70:5 pp 320-333
      • Randolph Co.
        • Cragford District
    		Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull120
    Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull120
    • Michigan
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
    www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-glm-rcim-geology-Minerals_Found_In_Michigan.Pdf.
    www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-glm-rcim-geology-Minerals_Found_In_Michigan.Pdf.
    www.deq.state.mi.us/documents/deq-glm-rcim-geology-Minerals_Found_In_Michigan.Pdf.
        • Marquette iron range
          • Palmer
    		Mineralogy of Michigan (2004) Heinrich & Robinson
          • Republic
    		U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    • Minnesota
    		Jay Ellis Ransom,1974, Gems and Minerals of America
    Jay Ellis Ransom,1974, Gems and Minerals of America
        • Mesabi Range
    		Am Min 20:405-425
    No reference listed
    • Wisconsin
    		USGS Bul.1460:96
    Mineral and/or Locality
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